Beth Winokur's Blog, page 5

Fear and Loathing in the Desert with Dr. Satan

Hola mi amigo’s,
This week was filled with music, speeches, reading, writing, and some trekking through the desert.
First the music: UCR’s orchestra performed a wonderful concert this weekend. There is something very human about an orchestra. The sound is so organic; the string instruments are often hand carved, and the players are so focused and determined to make each note count that it’s easy to forget about all the ugly in the world and just revel in the beauty that we humans can create. I particularly enjoyed Gustav Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer – beautiful, magical music!
This week I also worked as a judge at a high school speech competition. I judged three rounds of original scripts and it was a lot of fun. The high school students wrote short stories and speeches and then spoke or acted them out—sometimes playing the part of as many as five characters. Listening and witnessing the imaginations of those kids was so inspiring. I listened to stories about high school woes, serial killers, and an insane woman who was in love. The students also gave persuasive speeches followed by a solution. Their solutions to save the world should make the politicians shake in their boots.
This week’s writing: I’ve almost finished the fourth round of edits on my children’s chapter book and with any luck I’ll have finished writing the second by the end of this month. I time traveled a little too, but I hit a wall with that story, and after much meditation (I spent a lot of time in the car yesterday) I think I figured it out. I might have to start over–which means I get to spend more time in that world and with those characters so it’s still a win. ;0)
I have almost finish reading Nicole Dunlap’s, Miss Scandalous the second in the Miss Nobody series…I am enjoying the story and her style. If you are a person that likes family sagas with lots of drama, this series is for you. I was going to read Aubrianna Hunter’s new release Hidden Depths (which has hit the top 100 in erotic romance), but she writes faster than I can read and just released another book, Beyond the Mask , that she co-authored with Jeremy Laszlo. This is a paranormal story – which is more up my alley. So far (I’m 15% in – gotta love Kindle) it’s off to a great start; lots of seeds taking root.  I am also about half-done with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S.Tompson. This book has me laughing out loud – usually at odd places. So I read, I laugh, people look at me, and then my face turns red…it makes for an interesting time at baseball tryouts.
This week my day job had me trekking over rugged dirt roads in the high desert in my little compact car. I finally took mercy on it and pulled over and searched through the prickly plants to find just the right piece of dirt to photograph. This did wonders for my imagination. In the fifteen minutes I wandered around, I came across: aliens, turtle with superpowers, lone doors with gunslingers ready to draw, and the one that ended the adventure and had me running back to my car—Dr. Satan popping out from behind a Joshua tree (thanks Rob Zombie!).
 I can easily appreciate the beauty of the desert, but would much rather love it with a large group of friends, a long poking stick, some spf 600, and lots of water.
Finally, my debut novel Sunshine in Darkness is set to release soon. It’s a paranormal story for young adults and/or those that just like to read paranormal stories (take that! genre police!).
Here is the bodaciously beautiful book blurb:
A dark, demon-like creature has possessed Sunshine’s body since the day she was born.      Now, seventeen years later, she is done watching from the outside while the Intruder wrecks her life. When the opportunity arises to reclaim her body, she takes it.
Finally back in her body, Sunshine is arrested and, with her mother’s approval, sent to a       mental institution where Intruders abound. Sunshine must learn who she is, take charge            of her life, fight the Intruders, and look sane while doing it.  
Its due to release sometime next week! 
Adios muchachos
 

Greetings

Hello Friends,
This week was filled with goals that at one point or another dropped from “will do” status to “please don’t let me forget about this” status.
 This week’s goals were: work on time-traveling, figure out how this site works, edit the first of my children’s chapter book series and finish the outline for the next book, finish a friend’s book (Nicole Dunlap; see her Miss Nobody book – it’s the first in a series available @ Amazon.com), and start reading the newly released book of another friend, Aubrianna Hunter (Hidden Depths @ Amazon.). But alas, there was this other work that needed to be done–the “hey let’s eat & keep the lights” type–and it got in the way of my weekly goals (then again, I do need electricity to write so it’s all good).
 In addition to work-work, I was still able to spend two wonderful days and nights completing the last edits of my debut novel–Sunshine in Darkness(more on that next week). It was heaven.
The best part of editing is that I get to play God… all those times I’ve left a room wishing I said something better or reacted differently come true when I edit. For instance, who hasn’t regretted ending a sentence with “bitches?” Well, when I’m editing I can easily erase the hateful word and in its place cast a spell where the “bitches” grow a fungus-infected toenail from their upper lip. See, now you want to edit too.
I have no new art to show this week, but I do have some Truth and Beauty to share.
I finished Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I’m sure most people who grew up in America read this book in high school. But I somehow missed that one. Like Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, it was a bowl of yummy blueberry granola. The book was honest and engaging all the way through. I felt for George and Lennie, and held my breath at the end until I cried.
I also found this inspiring website called Wattpad, it has new stories in almost every genre. Although, I didn’t see any Amish Romance, but fear not, Amish Romance lovers, you can find that genre at your local Barnes and Noble, or at least I can in San Bernardino. Apparently, people who live in San Bernardino (one of the country’s poorest cities) like to read about Amish love. I guess San Bernardoers can relate to the Amish (or could it be the large bookstore is totally out of touch with the people in our community–hmmmm). Anyways, I digress–back to Wattpad. I read the first couple chapters of a paranormal story called The Happy Zombie Sunrise Home by Naomi Alderman–fun stuff. I hope to get back to Wattpad and finish it next week.
So I guess this week’s search for Truth and Beauty led me to a classic tale and zombies. I plan to hear some local music this weekend. There’s this cute bass-player I like to watch. I mean listen to….
Till next Friday, bitches J
As always, please feel free to comment on any of the books mentioned (or other things).

Away it goes...

Welcome!


Starting a blog is a daunting task for an introvert, especially one that is not particularly keen on discussing themselves (I’m talking about me and am now feeling rather weird doing it, because this first sentence has turned into some weird meta-introduction). Now that the Band-Aid has been ripped off – the first sentence is written, it’s time to state the purpose of this blog. 


The purpose of this blog is to discuss truth and beauty... yep, folks it’s going to be a navel-gazing delight. So, keep scrolling down and see if you can find the answers to life’s questions… no, not really!!  (Made ya lookJ)


I want to use this space to discuss art (in any form) that I have come across, in my search for truth and beauty. For example, I hope to discuss books, songs, philosophies, and performances that I am lucky enough to witness and experience.  I also want to share with anyone willing to read or watch some of my own creations… stories, flash fiction, painting, drawing, sculptures, or a new song I learned on ukulele.


So let’s begin:

I have been doing a lot of research for my current book – my New Year’s resolution was to time travel – so that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. The main character in this new project has taken me to 1979 New York, where hip-hop is king and bombing the city is the goal of every graffiti artist.


What has been written on our walls in Southern California is much different today then what the pioneering street artists were doing in New York… however, I know I have much more research to do… and I can’t wait to learn more about the origins of street art in California.


If you have info, please share in the comments section, or if you’re a street artist, tell me: Who inspires you? Also, please feel free to leave links to your own work.


Also, I have just discovered Style Wars. Which is s documentary film on graffiti made in 1980.  This film has been the best time traveling tool I have found as of yet (usually I’d say books are, but given that this is a very visual art, I’m going with the film this time.)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETRa_tx9c2w&feature=player_detailpage

 
*Also, if you have something you would like to share or would like to do a blog tour to promote your art (again in any form), please email me directly.   

 

Just getting started...this may take awhile.

Just getting started...this may take awhile.